St Eustatius / Special Interests / Weddings & Romance

By Nigel Tisdall

If you like the idea of a Caribbean wedding but don't want to take the familiar white dress on a golden beach route, St Eustatius could be of interest. The plus points of getting married here are that the occasion will be quiet, friendly, super-private and you'll get devoted attention from the Statians, many of whom are religious. On the downside the island is not the easiest of places for guests to get to, and the accommodation options are very limited. In the same vein, St Eustatius would make an offbeat choice for a honeymoon - well suited if you like to dive or hike, plus it is easily combined with some contrasting nights on islands such as St Barths or Anguilla which offer a wide choice of high-end beach resorts. As for romance, this is a small, quiet island where it is easy to meet people.

Wedding Tips

Every wedding on St Eustatius is special - there is no production line here and the islanders will do their best to make your ceremony exceptional given the facilities available.

As St Eustatius is part of the Netherlands, marriages must meet the requirements of that country. This includes formalities such as requesting permission to do this in advance from the Lieutenant-Governor and then submitting the necessary legal documents according to a set timetable. Ceremonies held in the Government Courthouse, Oranjestad, only require two witnesses, but at other locations it needs to be six.

Attractive venues for a wedding ceremony include Fort Oranje, the Synagogue ruins, the Dutch Reformed Church and the Old Gin House Hotel - all in Oranjestad. Also consider Statia Lodge and the Lookout at the Miriam C. Schmidt Botanical Gardens.